Commercial and Business Aviation Advisory Circulars

Use of Portable Passenger Operated Electronic Devices Onboard Aircraft and Occurrence Reporting

INTRODUCTION

This Commercial and Business Aviation Advisory Circular (CBAAC) is to remind air operators of their mandatory responsibilities for reporting to Transport Canada any incident involving interference caused by passenger operated portable electronic devices, and provides an updated address of the appropriate office where such report should be submitted.

Since the issuance of Air Carrier Advisory Circular (ACAC) 0106 in 1996, no instance of interference has been reported to Transport Canada. In discussions with crew members it has been determined that there have been occurrences of interference that were resolved without any official reports being submitted to Transport Canada.

This CBAAC also reminds air operators of the conditions required to establish a consistent and acceptable level of safety through procedures for acceptance or denial of passenger operated portable electronic devices.

This CBAAC replaces ACAC 0106 dated 1996.11.15.

REFERENCES

Sections 602.08, 703.38/723.38, 704.33/724.33 and 705.40/725.40 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) and the Commercial Air Service Standards (CASS).

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) - UK report # 9/40:23-90-02 published on May 02, 2000 entitled: "Interference Levels In Aircraft at Radio Frequencies used by Portable Telephones". The report may be downloaded in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) from:

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/50/Gsm_intf.pdf.

Boeing Commercial Airplane Group - Aeromagazine, issue No 10 of March 2000 -

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_10/interfere.html.

BACKGROUND

Portable Electronic Devices - General

In 1988, the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) Special Committee 156 completed its study of interference caused by portable electronic devices operated by passengers and concluded that for interference to occur, at least eight conditions would have to occur simultaneously. These include:

1. a portable device radiating over the limit at which receiver disruption can occur;
   
   
2. the portable device is orientated to maximum peak radiation in direction for minimum path (signal) loss (i.e. normally out the window);
   
   
3. reflection paths offered by objects outside the aircraft (i.e. wing, control surfaces, etc.);
   
   
4. the frequency of emission from the portable device falls within the aircraft receiver system operational frequency band;
   
   
5. the frequency of emission from the portable device falls within the receiver pass band;
   
   
6. the characteristic of emission is suitable to cause receiver disruption which may or may not be observable by the flight crew; and
   
   
7. a receiver system operating at/near its minimum signal level.

Because these conditions are independently variable, the RTCA concluded the chances of all occurring simultaneously are very low.

The vulnerability of aircraft radio-navigation and communications systems may be greatest during the take-off, climb, approach and landing phases of flight. During these phases, the aircraft is at lower altitudes and may be in close proximity to numerous ground-based interference sources, which could increase the likelihood of disruptive interference due to combined interference effects.

Portable Two-Way Radiocommunication Devices

Portable two-way radiocommunication devices such as cellular phones are classified as transmitters. Transport Canada Civil Aviation is concerned that passenger use of portable two-way radiocommunication devices onboard aircraft may interfere with the safe operation of the aircraft radio navigation/ radiocommunication systems and flight management systems.

Industry Canada no longer has any purview over the use of cellular telephones onboard aircraft. However, the CAA-UK and Boeing Company have recently published reports pertaining to passenger operated portable electronic devices, specifically cellular telephones. They confirmed through testing that cellular telephones can cause interference to aircraft equipment. The CAA-UK recommended that regulatory authorities continue to prohibit the use of cellular telephones (portable telephones) onboard aircraft while the engines are running. Boeing recommended prohibiting the use of cellular telephones during all phases of flight.

Portable two-way radiocommunication devices include but are not limited to cellular phones, two-way radios, mobile satellite service handsets, personal communications services devices, etc.

Note: Radio telephones which are permanently installed in aircraft are installed and tested in accordance with appropriate certification and airworthiness standards. In the context of this document, these devices are not considered portable two-way radiocommunication devices.

REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

CAR 602.08(1) prohibits the use of a portable electronic device onboard an aircraft where the device may impair the functioning of the aircraft systems or equipment.

The onus for determining if passenger-operated electronic devices will cause interference is placed on the operator of the aircraft because there are no airworthiness standards for the manufacture of passenger-operated devices, no maintenance standards and no performance standards in relation to their use on an aircraft. It is therefore the responsibility of the operator of the aircraft and/or the pilot to determine if these devices cause interference.

CAR 602.08 (2) prohibits a person from using a portable electronic device onboard an aircraft except with the permission of the operator of the aircraft.

CARs 703.38, 704.33 and 705.40 require air operators to establish procedures for the use of portable electronic devices onboard aircraft that meet the Commercial Air Services Standards (CASS) and are specified in the air operator’s Company Operations Manual.

OPERATING PROCEDURES

Operating procedures have been broken down into two categories:

"Informing Passengers" which includes information pertaining to prohibited devices, devices which are permitted with restrictions and devices which are permitted without restrictions; and

"Interference" which includes procedures for suspected interference and for reporting interference.

INFORMING PASSENGERS:

Sections 703.39/723.39; 704.34/724.34; 705.43/725.43 and 604.18/624.18 of the CARs and related Standards require passengers to be informed of the air operator's policy pertaining to the use of electronic devices during the pre-flight safety briefing.

Sections 723.38, 724.33 and 725.40 of the CASS define Prohibited Devices, Permitted Devices without Restrictions and Permitted Devices with Restrictions and are to be used in accordance with the stated requirements as applicable:

a)  Prohibited Devices:

Any transmitting device which intentionally radiates radio frequency signals, such as citizen band (CB) radios and transmitters that remotely control devices such as toys.

b)  Permitted Devices - Without Restrictions:

1. hearing aids;
2. heart pacemakers;
3. electronic watches; and
4. properly certified operator equipment, such as operator provided passenger air/ground telephone equipment operated in accordance with all other safety requirements.

c)  Permitted Devices - With Restrictions (If demonstrated acceptable):

Personal life support systems may be operated during all phases of flight, provided that these systems will not cause interference with the aircraft systems or equipment.

Portable two-way radiocommunication devices

Passenger use of portable two-way radiocommunication devices onboard aircraft is prohibited at all times when the aircraft engines are running, excluding the auxiliary power unit (APU).

If the pre-flight safety briefing and demonstrations begin prior to engine start, use of portable two-way communication devices must be terminated during the delivery of the safety briefing and demonstrations.

Passengers may use portable two-way radiocommunication devices if the air operator has established procedures in the Operations Manual and Flight Attendant Manual:

1. to inform the passengers when the use of these devices is prohibited, and
    
2. to ensure these devices are turned off and properly stowed -
    
   • during the delivery of the pre-flight safety briefing and demonstrations
      
   • while the aircraft engines are running.

Other portable electronic devices may be used except during take-off, climb, approach and landing. Typically these phases of flight coincide with the "seat belt on" sign and the requirement to stow seat trays.

Devices that may be used include, but are not limited to:

1. audio or video recorders;
2. audio or video playback devices;
3. electronic entertainment devices;
4. computers and peripheral devices;
5. calculators;
6. FM receivers;
7. TV receivers; and
8. electric shavers.

INTERFERENCE:

In accordance with regulatory requirements, if interference from a portable electronic device is suspected, the operator of the aircraft shall prohibit the use of the device.

Procedures - Suspected Interference:

Where interference with the aircraft systems or equipment is suspected from use of a portable electronic device, crew members shall:

1. confirm passenger use of electronic device(s);
2. instruct passenger(s) to terminate the use of portable electronic device(s);
3. prohibit the use of suspected portable electronic device(s); and
4. recheck the aircraft systems and equipment.

Reporting Interference:

The pilot-in-command/operator shall report incidents of portable electronic device interference and include the following information in the report:

1. FLIGHT INFORMATION - Aircraft type, registration number, date and UTC time of incident, aircraft location (VOR bearing/DIST/LAT/ LONG), altitude, weather conditions, pilot name and telephone number;
   
   
2. DESCRIPTION OF INTERFERENCE - Describe effects on flight deck indicators, audio, or systems, including radio frequency, identification, duration, severity and other pertinent information;
   
   
3. ACTION TAKEN BY PILOT/CREW TO IDENTIFY CAUSE OR THE SOURCE OF INTERFERENCE;
   
   
4. IDENTIFICATION OF PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Description of device, brand name, model, serial number, mode of operation (i.e. FM radio), device location (seat location), and regulatory approval number (FCC/other);
   
   
5. IDENTIFICATION OF USER - The name and telephone number of the passenger operating the device would be beneficial, if the passenger is willing to provide it, in case the device is requested for testing; and 
   
   
6. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - As determined pertinent by the crew.

Reports of interference are to be submitted to:

Director, Safety Services (AARQ)
Transport Canada, Civil Aviation
Place de Ville, Tower C
330 Sparks Street, 7th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0N8

Report forms may also be sent via facsimile to:

Director, Safety Services
(613) 991-4280

CONCLUSION

This CBAAC provides clarification and information regarding the use of portable electronic devices onboard aircraft and reminds air operators of the requirement to establish a reporting system of all applicable incidents involving electronic interference. Air operators should take the content of this CBAAC into consideration when establishing procedures for inclusion in their operations manual and, for those air operators who require flight attendants, in their flight attendant manual.

M.R. Preuss
Director
Commercial & Business Aviation